Pausing with Intention

“Even your hesitation is a part of the dance.” ~ Nayyirah Waheed

Musing on a topic each month for nearly two decades has been a healing balm for my soul. It creates space to focus on healing, enhancing, or releasing some aspect of my being in support of this lifelong journey.

As our theme Move in Balance continues to unfold, I find myself reflecting on how life is not just about movement or stillness—it’s about recognizing the sacred pause in between. The moment that lives between go and stop. That pause, when met with intention, can be life-changing and life-affirming. 

Pausing offers space for recalibration— a term I’ve leaned into over the years because it so clearly reflects how we are always resetting, always shifting, always doing our best in the moment we’re in. 

To enter that space between movement and stillness in a way that truly heals, we have to prepare for it. In yoga, there is a principle called Pratyahara, often translated as “sensory withdrawal.” It’s the fifth step on the eightfold path to self-realization—sometimes described as a bridge between the external busyness and internal stillness. Practice offers a way to return to inner peace, clarity, and connection beyond the noise and distraction. 

So how do we know it’s time to take an intentional pause? 

When that deep sense of flow starts to feel forced and fighting to stay in it begins to fray our nerves. When we find ourselves caught in perfectionism, anxious thoughts, or mindlessly numbing out on screens, food, or other things that try to fill the space that feels empty or unfulfilled within. 

Recently, I decided to take an intentional 24-hour pause from screens. 

My allergies have been fully present with me, draining my energy, and I found myself scrolling, liking, and spamming my loved ones with Reels much more than I normally would. When I realized that my rule of going to bed on the same day I got up had been off track for over a week, I knew I had to disconnect—otherwise, I’d slip too far and struggle to get back in balance. 

The pause was challenging—at times, as intense as any juice cleanse I’ve done—but it was exactly what I needed. I used my tools to stay fully present and today, even though I’m still working my way back to full energy, I feel better and much more connected. 

Are you in need of a pause? 

Not a break, but a pause that allows space for connection, clarity, and inspiration to unfold. If so, schedule it. 

Are you in need of a pause? 

Not a break, but a pause that creates space for clarity, connection, and inspiration. 

If yes, schedule it.
Let your loved ones and colleagues know.
Make it simple. Choose a timeframe that feels realistic and nourishing.
Make it long enough to give yourself the room to unfurl and unfold. 

You don’t have to wait for permission or for something to fall apart.

You can choose to pause with intention—and in doing so, return to yourself.

With love and gratitude,
Dana Andrea